Nenu

I have been treated (splints) for TMJ since April 2007. My dentist works closely with me to ensure that the jaw does not have any 'noise' in it. This relieved 80% of the pain I was experiencing on the left side of my face (was there for 2 years or more constantly).

During this treatment, the pain shifted to the right side of my face. My dentist said this was normal of TMJ treatment with splints, and that movement means progress.

During the time I have worn the splints, I have experienced vertigo twice (3 weeks at a time), as well as migraines (I have been a migraine suffer since age 6, and I am now 30). I then developed burning mouth syndrome about 2 weeks into the splint treatment. This is still present, however has lessened from the original onset, and is relieved greatly with good sleep.

Originally, in the facial pain, it was suspected that I had Trigeminal Neuralgia. I was finally referred to a Neurologist to see about what could be done. 2 weeks before going to see him, the right side of my mouth began a slight pull upwards. I had long noticed twitching around my eye on the right side, and doctors had said 'it's fatigue, eye strain'. No matter how much I slept, it wasn't relieved in the least.

The neurologist looked over all my symptoms, and said, "There's nothing I can do for you". I was appalled to hear this. I had waited for so long, and he didn't even want to explore anything. I asked about MRI. He said he wouldn't know what to look for. I was speechless.

So the twitching moved from not only the right eye, but into my right cheek, and mouth on the right. Another doctor suspected the slight facial change to be Bells Palsy. The mouth wasn't drooping however. It was slightly being pulled upwards. Twitching ever present. My right ear felt sore.

CT scan checked out normal, urine test checked out normal etc etc. Plenty of xrays and such.

What I believe I may be looking at is Hemifacial Spasm. I am wondering if other symptoms, such as burning mouth and vertigo are consistant with this. The burning mouth for example, has always been it's worse on the right side of the mouth/tongue (left not affected so much). I also experienced loss of taste for a short while, as well as smell. I have what feels like congestion in the right side of my nose without the actual congestion there. Left side do not feel the same. I've been taking antibiotics for 4 days to see if this would relieve the symptoms. They have not. Amitriptyline 12.5 mg nightly for the headaches. This has helped so far with that alone. It has caused dry mouth to worsen however, which does not help the burning mouth situation.

I am really at a loss now as to what exactly I do have. Doctors are stumped. Perhaps some here can provide some type of direction or correlation of sorts with what I am experiencing. ~ To add, I see a chiropractor every 2 weeks who also does acupuncture to the face, which seems to help for a few days after to relieve some of the pain.